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Travel + Leisure
21 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Was Born Without Arms, but That Didn't Stop Me From Becoming the World's First Licensed Armless Pilot
For Travel + Leisure's column Traveling As, we're talking to travelers about what it's like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. We chatted with Jessica Cox, the world's first licensed armless pilot, who is now working on building the first exclusively foot-controlled plane with the Experimental Aircraft Association , called The Impossible Airplane . She also travels the world as a motivational speaker, encouraging people to not look at disabilities as inabilities. Here's her story… I was born without both my arms for no medical reason. They never developed in utero, and it's still a mystery to this day as to what exactly caused it—it was just one of those fluke things. But because it was from birth, I had my whole life to figure it out. In a sense, that was a gift because if you're born a certain way, and it's all you've ever known, you start with a clean slate. From the beginning, I made the connection that if there are no arms, why not use my feet? Our toes and feet have the same type of bones as our hands and fingers, so it was a normal transition for replacement. Quite frankly, I didn't even realize how different I was until I left my community. But the moment I did, I was constantly reminded I was different. That was hard and took some getting used to, especially dealing with the stares and reactions. I did everything to satisfy that norm, trying to blend in with prosthetic limbs for 11 years. But I never connected with them, so I said, why not just let them go? I made that decision as a 14 year old. I decided to give up the arms and figure out how to stand tall as someone who's different. It wasn't overnight, and it wasn't always easy. Jessica, at age 14 with her prosthetics. Travel was my love from a very early age. I got that from my mom. She's Filipino and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s. She was a well-established nurse there, so they invited her to come when there was a need for nurses here. She fell in love with being in the U.S., and met my father at an international party. He's rooted in the Deep South, so they couldn't be more different. But then they had this wonderful family with three children, and instilled in me the best of both worlds and a love for both worlds. I took my first big international trip to the Philippines when I was 8. It was life-changing to know there's a different world, and it never stopped. I've now spoken in 28 countries around the world and traveled to even more. Now, I will say, the difficulty for someone without arms to travel is magnified. Universal design—that is, designing products and environments to be usable by all—is something most people are aware of, but every person with a disability has individual needs and preferences. For example, I don't need an ADA-compliant hotel room. The benefit is that everything is lower down, so I can reach things more easily with my feet. But there are aspects that don't work for me. A roll-under sink, for example, is actually a disservice because if I'm using my feet as my hands, I have to be seated on the countertop. There's an assumption I need an ADA room, and I have to tell them, that depends on the room. We need to treat each person we encounter with the mindset that everyone's different. I've been speaking for 18 years now and it's a message that resonates with everyone: think outside the shoe. The exterior of Jessicas Ercoupe airplane. While I love travel, it has also meant conquering something anxiety-provoking for me: flying. When I flew commercially as a child, I would get so much tension from the experience, I'd have to take some medication. For many people, the fear comes from not having control. For me, it was the fear of the unknown. When you don't understand flying, and you take Hollywood as your example of what happens if a flight isn't smooth, it sparks fear. When I was 21 and straight out of college, I was approached to fly in a small plane. I thought, this is my chance to overcome this fear. The more I learned about aviation and aerodynamics, I realized I shouldn't be afraid. If you lose an engine, you just glide down to the ground and find somewhere to land—it's not like the plane falls out of the sky. Turbulence is going to happen. It's different when you're seeing all that has to come together to fly a plane, and to be there holding on to the controls. It's a very different position than being a passenger. I went up for my first flight in the cockpit of a small plane—a Cessna, typically a starter plane for beginners. The airplane had dual controls, meaning you can fly it from the right or left seat. I sat on the right side and the pilot in command (PIC), Bill, was in the left seat. While we were in the air, he said, 'Why don't you try and see what it's like to fly?' I wasn't the type of person to say no, so I took my shoe off and hesitantly brought my foot up to the yoke, the control wheel for steering. I grabbed a hold of it between my big toe and second toe. I looked over at Bill to my left and he had his hands off the controls. He said, 'You're flying the airplane!' It hit me at that moment—I wanted to do everything I could to become a pilot. When you overcome your fears, you get everything you've ever wanted on the other side of that—and so I became the first licensed pilot to fly a plane with her feet. I have a sport pilot certification to fly light sport aircraft, so I can take one passenger up to an altitude of 10,000 feet in the daylight. They call it the "$100 hamburger" because it means flying to a little neighboring airport, going in for breakfast, and then flying back. My most exciting flight was my first solo journey. My instructor stepped out of the airplane and said, 'Take her up, fly it around.' Knowing I was doing this myself was incredible. It gives you a sense of empowerment, like I have my life in my own feet. Of course, there have been challenging moments, too, that they call a near-miss. These occurrences sometimes happen among students. In my case, it was another student pilot who wasn't doing their radio calls correctly in the pattern. The only reason we knew it was a close call was because we had GoPros rigged up on my plane. When I show up at these airfields with small planes, it's usually older white men. You feel like a minority, undoubtedly. People see the exterior and think you can't do it. I've had to develop a thick skin and say, 'Yes, I can.' Once I showed them what I could do with my feet and the controls of an airplane, they were just like, 'Oh, you're a pilot.' Jessica with with EAA Chapter 898 working on the Impossible Airplane. Every year, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts the world's largest airshow—AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I've been going since about 2009. It's like a big party with airplanes. Most planes are designed for people with four limbs. I usually fly an Ercoupe, designed in the '30s and built in the '40s. It's the only airplane that was built without rudder pedals. The rudders are interconnected with the ailerons, meaning someone with two limbs can fly it. It's the only reason I'm flying today. For 18 years, I've been making my feet work on an airplane meant for hands. There are plenty of compromises in comfort, as you can imagine. My feet are up high and I'm not sitting comfortably. Now, we're working on another pioneering project with EAA Chapter 898, spearheaded by Bob Newman, to build the first-ever experimental airplane with unique modifications that can be flown with feet alone. For the last four years in Toms River, New Jersey, we've been building a custom four-seat RV-10 airplane, called The Impossible Airplane until it's built, at which point it will be named the I'm Possible Airplane. We're building it through my nonprofit Rightfooted Foundation International, which is focused on empowering that message that disability doesn't mean inability, as well as helping children and adults born without arms and various disabilities. Aviation is just one of our four programs. Another is providing a tool that helps people without arms get dressed on their own since it's the difference between independence and dependence. We have some ambitious goals. I'm hoping to become the first woman with a disability to fly around the world in a small aircraft in 2028. There are so many places around the world where having a disability has such a strong stigma. Children are hidden at home. People with disabilities aren't given a chance to go to school. They don't get to have a job. Some aren't seen as candidates for marriage or family life. We want to shift that. This flight around the world is going to show that if I can fly a plane with my feet, we should not hold back other people with disabilities. When you don't get to see the world, you have a limited perspective. The moment you see there's more, it opens up your world to possibilities. For instance, when I travel on my own, it's a great feeling of not just seeing another destination, but also the act of doing an international solo trip. Even the small things, like carrying luggage, requires a creative solution. Sometimes, it's scary not to have anyone to lean on, but when you put yourself in a bit of a scary position, it stretches the best version of yourself. Last March, I was on a long international flight sitting in economy plus. I couldn't use the table for eating a meal. The flight attendant thoughtfully brought out a huge tray—the one that holds meals in the top part of the cart—and put it on the floor in front of me, and we made a makeshift table. Solo travel is a celebration of these moments. When you have a physical disability, people often feel like they don't have the luxury of travel, but it's not true. I encourage people to not shy away from the things that scare them, and instead embrace them and see they can be great experiences. Face your fears and it can change your life.
San Francisco Chronicle
22-06-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
6 dead, 2 missing after boat capsizes on Lake Tahoe during sudden storm
Six people died and two remained missing after a boat capsized Saturday afternoon near D.L. Bliss State Park on Lake Tahoe, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Authorities said the 27-foot Chris-Craft vessel overturned shortly after 3 p.m. amid a sudden storm that ushered in high winds and rough waters. The Coast Guard reported winds of up to 30 knots at the time of the incident. 'Callers indicated that approximately 10 individuals were in the water near the vessel, with reported wave heights reaching 8 feet,' the office said. Local news outlet South Tahoe Now reported that rescuers arrived at the state park after a lifeguard and a ranger initially spotted people in the water. They pulled two individuals onto nearby rocks and began performing CPR. The lifeguard then entered the water to rescue another person. Both were brought aboard a Coast Guard boat, but the rescued individual did not survive, according to the outlet. The two individuals who were rescued were transported to a local hospital. Six adults were recovered from the water and pronounced dead. The search for the remaining two people is ongoing. 'We had a boat booked, just waiting at the dock—and within 30 minutes, the skies flipped,' said Jessica Cox, a visitor who shared her experience on TikTok. 'Heavy rain. Sudden snow. Boats struggling to get back.' Cox, who was at The Grove Bar & Grill in South Lake Tahoe during the storm, said the rapid shift in weather left many stunned. 'Boats missing. Properties damaged,' she said. 'We watched in real time, shocked and praying. Thankfully, rescue crews responded fast—grateful to God for keeping us safe.' She added that longtime residents told her it was 'the weirdest weather they've seen on Lake Tahoe in 30+ years.' Witnesses reported seeing several boats capsize during the storm as severe weather swept across the lake. According to the National Weather Service, between 2:15 and 4:15 p.m., temperatures dropped sharply from 54 degrees to 37 degrees as a thunderstorm moved through the area. Wind gusts reached up to 37 mph at the South Lake Tahoe Airport and as high as 45 mph over the middle of the lake. The winds were coming from the north, which is less typical for the region and may have contributed to the severity of the conditions and the resulting damage. The sheriff's office said its search and rescue and dive teams would resume operations Sunday morning. The identities of the deceased have not been released pending notification of next of kin. The Coast Guard responded alongside California State Parks, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and other local agencies. The cause of the capsizing is under investigation.
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Australia's new haul of Chinese online goods helps tame inflation
Chinese e-commerce platforms are not new in Australia, with Temu capturing big chunks of online sales, but their broadening appeal to Australians comes as they wrestle with lingering cost-of-living pressures. Singapore-based online fast-fashion retailer Shein, which sells clothes made in China, earlier this month held a pop-up store in Sydney and launched its first Australia-focused brand, Aralina. Alibaba had been a low-key cross-border player until last year when it started investing aggressively to boost global sales, including in Australia. Its main competitor also launched its Australian site in March. The push was initially designed to reach more Chinese buyers overseas, but Trump's tariff chaos thrust the e-commerce sites into the spotlight, with Taobao offering an English version of the app. Taobao is promoting sales in English for the annual '618" shopping festival on June 18, one of China's largest. It offers free shipping to Australia for clothes worth more than 249-yuan (R613.23). Consumers interviewed by Reuters said Taobao's app is easy to use and has translation functions to help communicate with sellers. High shipping costs can sometimes be a hindrance, but in some cases it is cheaper than buying locally. The site's growing profile in English-speaking communities has elevated the 'Taobao haul' trend on TikTok in markets such as Australia. Australian consumer Jessica Cox shared her first Taobao experience on social media, which included purchases of imitations of AirPods Max headphones. She also bought a Dyson vacuum cleaner and New Balance shoes, which were on the way. 'I thought I'd give it a try as a lot of people were saying they are pretty close to being mirror fakes,' she said. 'I thought, what do I have to lose?'
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
RNDC and LibDib Expand On Demand Distribution Model to Seven New States
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LibDib, the leading digital alcohol distribution platform, in partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), proudly announces the expansion of RNDC On Demand to six new markets: Florida, Virginia (wine only), Washington D.C., Maryland, Colorado, Illinois, and South Carolina. 'The expansion of RNDC On Demand gives us access to buyers in key growth markets,' said Jessica Cox, Founder of Just Enough Wines. 'Our experience with the On Demand model in Texas was instrumental in scaling our presence." Share This strategic rollout provides wine and spirits producers—from emerging brands to established suppliers—with more choices to access key markets through a flexible, tech-enabled distribution model. 'Suppliers deserve options, and RNDC On Demand provides flexibility and control,' said Dean Parker, Director of the On Demand program for LibDib and RNDC. 'Together, we're expanding a modern path to market that empowers suppliers to grow at their own pace, backed by RNDC's logistics and service excellence.' Powered by LibDib's proven digital platform, RNDC On Demand allows suppliers to quickly and compliantly enter new markets. Products can be launched and delivered efficiently to on- and off-premise accounts, including national and regional chains. As brands grow, they have the opportunity to transition into full-service RNDC distribution, offering a scalable solution that supports long-term success. 'The expansion of RNDC On Demand gives us access to buyers in key growth markets,' said Jessica Cox, Founder of Just Enough Wines. 'Our experience with the On Demand model in Texas was instrumental in scaling our presence and ultimately transitioning to full-service distribution. We're excited to bring that same momentum to new states.' 'This is about putting control in the hands of the suppliers,' said Cheryl Durzy, Founder and CEO of LibDib. 'RNDC has been a key innovation partner, helping us advance our mission of making distribution accessible to all Makers. With On Demand, we're expanding our reach and offering flexible solutions tailored to each brand's goals, size, and target markets.' In crossover states such as Florida, Colorado, Illinois, Washington D.C., and Maryland—where both LibDib and RNDC On Demand operate—suppliers can work directly with portfolio managers to select the distribution model that best fits their brand and complies with local regulations. Whether launching a new product or expanding market presence, LibDib and RNDC On Demand provide: Access to high-potential markets Scalable pathways to full-service distribution Digital tools to manage products and accounts Support at every stage of business growth By combining digital innovation with trusted distribution expertise, LibDib and RNDC are redefining what's possible in the alcohol beverage industry—empowering suppliers to grow how they want, where they want. With this expansion, LibDib now enables three-tier compliant distribution in 18 states, covering nearly every major U.S. market and approximately 75% of available accounts. Makers interested in distribution in one or more of the 18 markets available can reach out to makers@ or click here for more information. About LibDib LibDib, LLC is a licensed wholesale alcohol distributor and technology innovator, offering a compliant three-tier distribution platform for wine and spirits makers of all sizes. With an easy-to-use marketplace, LibDib simplifies the buying and selling experience for both suppliers and trade buyers across the country. Learn more at or follow LibDib on LinkedIn. About RNDC As a leading national beverage distributor in wine and spirits, RNDC has established its reputation by bringing the industry's brightest talent together, consistently igniting opportunities for our suppliers, customers, and associates. Our expansive national reach empowers suppliers by building strategic relationships with on- and off-premise customers, elevating their brands and connecting them with their target consumers. Operating in the District of Columbia and 39 states across the United States, we are committed to being the most valuable partner to all we serve. With roots extending before Prohibition and a footprint spanning from local to national, digital to DTC, we are ushering in a new era of wine and spirits distribution within the three-tier system. At RNDC, we work in that rare space where commitment to craft meets unrelenting quality. Fueled by passion, we are raising the bar for beverage alcohol distribution—elevating spirits and sales across our value chain. To learn more, visit
